My Sweet Angel
January 10th 1996 - November 19th 2010





My beautiful girl, Jessie, passed away on friday the 19th of November, and I feel like my heart has torn out and gone with her She was the sweetest, most patient, loyal and loving friend I could ever have hoped to have and I am very grateful for the almost fifteen years we had together but I also want to scream it's not enough... I want more

She was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in August 2009 and since then I'd been doing everything I could to slow the deterioration of her kidneys but they were failing, and she was suffering, so I got a travelling vet to come out and she said that there was nothing else that could be done and that kidney failure is a horrible death and it could go on for days with her suffering just getting worse, so I patted her head and talked to her while she was put to sleep

I miss her so much and I have been haunted ever since by the suffering in her eyes and also by the moment in which the light went out of those beautiful eyes but a couple of days ago I received a sympathy card from the vet, who was so very kind and caring, and in it she enclosed the poem below which has really given me a great deal of comfort.


If it be I grow frail and weak
And pain should wake me from my sleep,
Then you must do what must be done
For this last battle can't be won.

You will be sad - I understand
Don't let your grief then stay your hand
For this day, more than all the rest,
Your love and friendship stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
What is to come will hold no fears.
You'd not want me to suffer... so,
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me where all my needs they'll tend,
But stay with me until the end,
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you too will see,
It is a kindness you do for me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From this pain and suffering I've been saved.

Do not grieve that it should be you
Who must decide this thing to do.
We've been so close, we two, these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

_{Author unknown}


I'm sorry if I haven't replied to a message you've sent me or viewed your work, I am way behind with DA. With having CFS I don't have a great deal of energy and nursing Jess as she became sicker has been taking more and more of it. I hope to catch up soon but my heart's just not in it right now




Jess at three months old and so full of energy
and curiousity





Nine months old in October 1996 and utterly
irresistable





With her frisbee and her football in 1997. She
loved having things thrown for her to fetch
and had a big collection of balls that she was
always excited to add a new one to





Me and my girl in 1999





Nine years old in 2005





She loved to swim, especially if she could
combine it with her love of having something
thrown for her to fetch





The face of an angel
July 2010





Eyes shining with her wonderful intelligence
Taken just 5 weeks ago



Goodbye my darling, may your spirit fly as free as the wind...

And when I join you by and by
Together shall our spirits fly
In heavenly realms so sublime
Forever spring will be our time
For only will our bodies lie
In yonder field

_{~ Andrea Da Costa}